Page 7 of Her Filthy Cowboy

I shrug, still not meeting his gaze. “Life’s complicated, Brody. Things don’t always go according to plan.”

“Is that why you moved back to Wyoming? Because things in New York didn’t go according to plan?”

I sigh. “Pretty much. “I don’t know if you heard, but my dad got sick earlier in the year. Cancer.”

Brody’s hand stills on my thigh. “Damn, Savannah. I’m sorry. I had no idea.”

“He’s in remission now,” I say quickly. “But it was touch and go for a while there. I just...I thought it was best for me to come home. Be with my family, you know?”

Brody nods slowly. “I get that. Family’s everything.”

“It really is.” I glance over at him, his profile silhouetted against the afternoon sun. He looks relaxed out here, at home in a way I rarely see him anywhere. “I guess it all worked out in the end, though,” I tell him.

A small smile plays on his lips as his eyes meet mine. “I guess it has.”

About an hour later,the interview wraps up and we head back to the stables.

I swing my leg over Buttercup’s back, ready to dismount, but as I do, the toe of my boot catches in the stirrup. Suddenly, I’m falling, the ground rushing up to meet me at an alarming speed. A startled yelp escapes my lips as I brace for a fall.

But Brody is right there to catch me. “Easy, baby,” he says as he helps me stand upright.

I tell myself he’s like this with everyone, that his flirting doesn’t mean anything. But the intensity in his gaze makes me wonder if maybe there’s more to it than that.

“So, about this bet. How about I pick you up Friday at six?” Brody’s fingers trace circles on my hip, making it hard to focus on his words. “We’ll have dinner, then spend the night at the Fit Mountain Resort. I’ll book us a room.”

My mouth suddenly feels unbearably dry, and my voice comes out as a whisper. “Okay. That sounds fine.”

“Any preferences for dinner?”

Why is he treating this like a date? I thought he just wanted sex. But dinner, a resort... it feels like more.

I shake my head, unable to think about food when all I can focus on is the heat of his body so close to mine. “I’m open.”

Brody’s hand leaves my waist, and I instantly miss his touch. He holds out his hand. “Give me your phone.”

I fumble in my pocket, pull out my phone, and hand it over. Brody flashes the phone at my face, unlocking it with facial recognition. He types in his number and then sends himself a text.

“There,” he says, handing it back. “Now you’ve got my number. Text me if you think of anything during the week.”

I clutch the phone, staring at the new contact on my screen. Brody Clayton. It feels surreal. I swallow hard. “Anything like what?”

Brody leans in close, his lips brushing my ear. “Anything at all. What you want to eat, what you want to wear...” His voice drops even lower. “What you want me to do to you.”

My heart pounds so loud I’m sure he can hear it. I struggle to breathe as he pulls back, his eyes locked on mine.

“See you Friday, baby. Sweet dreams ’til then.” He winks.

As I watch him walk away, his confident stride makes my mouth water.

Ugh.

What have I gotten myself into?

Chapter Three

BRODY

“Geez,this place is way more packed than I expected.” Melody steps into the bar, and Wyatt, Jace, and I trail behind her. “It’s like the whole city is in here.”

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